Travelling with fuel cells

This page is about travelling on Air New Zealand operated flights with fuel cells that power portable electronic devices, such as cameras, cellular phones, laptop computers and camcorders.

Batteries and battery banks are not fuel cells. For information on travelling with batteries, please see the prohibited and restricted items pages for checked-in baggage and carry-on baggage.

Prohibited

These are not allowed:

Fuel cells that only charge a battery in a device

Fuel cells that can charge the battery in a device when it is not in use

More than two spare fuel cell cartridges per person

Fuel cells containing fuel in checked-in baggage (but you can take them as carry-on)

Refuelling on the plane, unless you are simply installing a spare cartridge

Any fuel cells or cartridges that do not comply with the requirements below

Fuel cell and cartridge requirements

Fuel cells must be of a type that will not charge batteries when the portable electronic device is not in use. To be allowed in checked-in or carry-on baggage, a fuel cell or cartridge must meet these requirements.

Markings

Each fuel cell and cartridge must be marked by the manufacturer with:

Certification that it conforms to IEC 62282-6-100 Ed. 1 including amendment 1

The maximum quantity and type of fuel it contains

The words 'APPROVED FOR CARRIAGE IN AIRCRAFT CABIN ONLY'

Types of fuel

These are the only fuel types allowed:

Flammable liquids

Corrosive substances

Liquefied flammable gas

Water-reactive substances

Hydrogen in metal hydride

Amount of fuel

Fuel cells containing fuel are not allowed in checked-in baggage. Separate spare cartridges are allowed in checked-in baggage and carry-on baggage (up to two cartridges total per person).

For each type of fuel, here is the maximum amount a fuel cell or cartridge may contain:

Liquids, 200ml

Solids, 200g

Liquefied gases in:

non-metallic fuel cells or cartridges, 120ml

metal fuel cells or cartridges, 200ml

For hydrogen in metal hydride, the fuel cell cartridges must have a water capacity of 120ml or less.